Ethanol trains from the Midwest generally yield some unique power during their eastward commute across CSX rails and this late evening CSX K447 was no exception. Led by ICE 6434, CITX 3053, and SO... (more)

The Mason City to Austin, MN, and back local has the #616 ethanol train out Welcome, MN, in tow as they head back to Mason City. Since the crew has the 616 and 4 motors they will take the Iowa Nor... (more)

The daily Mason City, IA, to Nahant, IA, manifest train is picking up 25 loads here at Rudd This train is due out of Mason City at noon, and normally meets its counterpart at New Hampton or Ossian... (more)

CP 450 catches some last light as it heads NB back to Saratoga. Note the difference in the striping between the older multi mark scheme and the last version of action red displayed on the DME unit... (more)

276 has gotten the call from Tower B17 and is approaching the Bensenville Yard. An IC&E "Snoot" leads the way, followed by a red DM&E SD40-2 and IC&E 6102, the last remaining IMRL painted SD40-2.

An ICE powered ethanol unit train waits for a signal beside NS 7558 with a consist two new EMD railbus' with SETRAG markings and 7 new SD 70Ace's with SNIM markings bound for Africa.

An ethanol unit train with "thru" power in the form of 3 ICE SD 40-2's was a pleasant surprise to find on the Pokey.

CP 626 takes to Indiana Harbor Belt rails, as it heads for the CSX.

A tasty quartet of blue and gold SD40's lead 276 by Rondout Tower.

A rare train on the Waseca Sub, corn mash #367 swings into Owatonna, MN doing every bit of track speed. The leader is the last remaining locomotive wearing IMRL dress.

Power for a unit ethanol train awaits its call to duty. Its original time was 0800, thus prompting me to drive nearly 200 miles to get it. Sometime overnight, its departure time got pushed back 1... (more)

Under clear blue skies, I couldn't have asked for a better lash-up.

CP 636 slowly rolls up on Irving Park Road with the good stuff, a trio of IC&E SD40-2's.

Two ex-Soo GP9's hauling 6 SD40-2's over to NRE in Silvis along with 11 cars of local work are climbing up the interchange track and onto the Iowa Interstate for a run through Davenport and to cro... (more)